Fergie filed to FA

SPURS have handed the Premier League a dossier of evidence from the past 12 months backing up their complaint against Manchester United’s pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov.

Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the validity of quotes attributed to him last week, which led to the astonishing attack on him from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. But last week’s issues are only the latest in a series of incidents which Spurs believe amount to blatant tapping-up of their Bulgarian striker.

 

Spurs have been angered by United and Liverpool, who are chasing Robbie Keane, and the two clubs will write back in response to the complaints before it is decided whether they will face a charge.

 

Levy has accepted that Berbatov and Keane want to leave White Hart Lane and deals are likely to go through before the start of the season.

 

But there is expected to be huge fall-out from the transfers after Levy accused Ferguson of “sheer arrogance” and being “hypocritical”.

 

Spurs believe United have broken Premier League rules in the last year and are confident their evidence will support their complaint.

 

Berbatov, 27, interested United before moving to Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006, and has been consistently linked with a move to Old Trafford for Champions League football since his successful rookie season in England.

 

Levy’s criticism of Liverpool in his statement last week was less harsh—but there is a history of bad blood between him and Anfield boss Rafael Benitez.

 

In March 2006 the Liverpool boss claimed Spurs were “desperate” to sell Jermain Defoe and take Djibril Cisse, a statement which had Spurs fuming that their-then England striker was being unsettled by speculation.

 

TOTTENHAM have entered the race to sign Andrei Arshavin—and are willing to pay close to £16 million to land him.

 

Levy has already made an enquiry about the 27-year-old Russian, who was one of the stars of Euro 2008.

 

But Zenit St Petersburg are holding out for more than £21 million and hope to encourage a bidding war between Europe’s top clubs to drive up the asking price.

 

Zenit official Konstantin Sarsaniya said: “With Tottenham we have contacts. This English club is really interested in acquiring Andrei but, as I understand, £21.5m is too high a price for them.

 

“For Spurs it is unacceptable. Tottenham are ready to pay in the region of £15.9m for Arshavin.”

 

Spurs will not take part in an auction for Arshavin and are hoping Zenit lower their valuation after he accused them of pricing him out of a move.

 

The player’s dream move to Barcelona has so far failed to materialise, and while Chelsea and Arsenal have also shown interest, Sarsaniya claimed speculation linking Manchester City with a move was wide of the mark.

(Daily Star)